Nice Plans Memorial Space for 2016 Attack at Massena Museum

Nice – 15 July 2026: The city of Nice intends to create a permanent memorial space at the Massena Museum for the victims of the terrorist attack of 14 July 2016. Mayor Eric Ciotti announced the initiative the day after the central memorial ceremony marking the tenth anniversary. According to his announcement, it is scheduled to open in autumn 2026.

The attack on the Promenade des Anglais claimed the lives of 86 people on France’s national holiday in 2016. More than 400 others were injured. Late in the evening, a truck drove into the crowd making its way along the waterfront promenade after the fireworks display. The attack left a lasting mark on Nice and affected families from France and many other countries.

On Tuesday, 14 July 2026, the city commemorated those killed, injured and those who survived. President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron also attended the ceremony. The national tribute placed the victims’ relatives and the consequences of the attack for the entire city at its centre. Public buildings across France flew flags at half-mast for the occasion.

The planned space at the Massena Museum is intended to permanently anchor remembrance of the attack within one of the city’s central cultural institutions. The museum is located near the Promenade des Anglais, the site of the attack. A memorial bearing the names of the 86 people killed already commemorates the victims in the museum garden. It was inaugurated in July 2022.

Since 2016, the city has held an official memorial event every year on 14 July. It works with several local victims’ associations, including Promenade des Anges, Memorial des Anges, Life for Nice and Une voie des enfants. The tenth anniversary also included exhibitions and other public formats addressing the events and their long-term consequences.

There are currently no further public details on the content, design, funding or exact opening date of the announced memorial space. However, the announcement signals an intention to convey the history of the attack not only through the annual ceremony, but also through a permanently accessible place. The memory of the victims is to remain visible to residents, relatives and visitors.

The Nice attack ranks among the most serious terrorist crimes in France in recent decades. Ten years later, the city is combining its remembrance work with a concrete cultural project. According to the mayor, the new area at the Massena Museum is to open in autumn 2026.